VALLEY CENTER  If all Brandon Washington cared about was winning, things would be falling into place perfectly.

Two of his fastest rivals, Grant Zebold of Cathedral Catholic (stress fracture in his foot) and Chase Peterson of Canyon Crest (leg injury) are sidelined with injuries, seemingly opening the door for the El Camino High hurdler.

But the senior wants some fast times and taking away two of the best hurts those chances.

“It’s bad that they’re hurt, I hope they get back by the end of the season,” said Washington, who ran the second fastest time in the section this season to capture the 110-meter hurdles in 14.63 seconds and scrambled across the finish line to win the 300-meter hurdles in 40.89 after bashing the last barrier Saturday at the 15th Jaguar Invitational.

“I have a better chance at state in the longer race and I was looking to be under 39 seconds.”

He appeared well on his way to something under 39 approaching the final hurdle before suddenly chopping his steps. His lead leg pounded the hurdle and he fell hard to track before scrambling to his feet and winning by .07 seconds.

Washington finished sixth in the section the 300 hurdles and eighth in the 110s last year but is hoping to get his times down to a point where he can make the finals at the state meet before heading off to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

His performances were matched by Mission Hills sophomore Susie Acolatse, who managed to lower her own section yearly best from a windy 12.12 to a legal 12.01.

“I’m pleased,” said Acolatse, who learned a lot from watching El Camino’s Jasmine Gibbs a year ago and is looking to dip down to 11.5 in the century later in the season.

“My 100 is better than the 200 because it’s shorter. I can get under 12 when I get a better start — I could drive (out of the blocks) more.”

She may not like the 200 as much, but she came back and ran the second fastest 200 of the season at 24.98, cracking 25-seconds for the first time and setting a meet record, erasing Gibbs’ 25.12 set in 2010.

Elsewhere, Carina Gillespie looked impressive at last week’s Arcadia Invitational where she clocked a 2:13.01 but without as much competition, cruised to victory in the girls 800 at 2:17.40.

“Arcadia is one of the best meets in the nation,” said the senior, who is looking for an appointment to the Air Force Academy.

“I just wanted to do what the coaches asked and they said to run a fast last 300-meter, which I think I did.”

Like Washington, she’s looking for a much faster time by season’s end.

“I’m aiming for a sub 2:10,” said Gillespie, who was second in the section Masters meet a year ago.

The other meet record fell to the Cathedral Catholic 1,600-meter relay team of Dani Johnson, Claire Hobrock, Carissa Fisher and Kaylee Fitzgerald which recorded a 4:00.03, which is also the section yearly best. That was faster than Mt. Carmel 4:02.96 in 2010.